Tubing hanger assembly



y 6, 1965 w. L. TODD 3,193,30

' TUBING HANGER ASSEMBLY Filed Aug. 19, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 F'IE 1 ea59 INVENTOR WILL'AM L. TODD ATTORNEY July 6, 1965 w. L. TODD TUBINGHANGER ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 19, 1959 ATTORNEY UnitedStates Patent 3,193,308 TUBWG HANGER ASSEMBLY William L. Todd, Houston,Tex., assignor to Oil Center Tool Company, Houston, Tern, a corporationof Texas Filed Aug. 19, 1959, Ser. No. 834,843 17 Claims. (Cl. 28518)This invention pertains to well completion equipment, and moreparticularly relates to a tubing hanger assembly for use in anunderwater well installation.

Conventional well head installations are equipped with casing headshaving radially disposed threaded lugs which project therefrom, andwhich are screwed inwardly to lock the tubing hanger within the casinghead. These locking lugs must be manipulated every time the tubinghanger is inserted into or removed from the casing head for any purpose.Consequently if such a structure is used in an underwater wellinstallation, the services of a diver are required to manipulate thelocking lugs.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved tubinghanger assembly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tubing hangerassembly which automatically looks itself within a casing head and whichcan subsequently be released therefrom within requiring any operationsat the exterior of the casing head.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a' tubing hangerassembly adapted to be released from the casing head within which it isinstalled by operations performed at a point remote from said casinghead.

Another object is to provide a tubing hanger assembly which is capableof being released from a casing head beneath Water by operationsperformed above the water surface.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tubing hangerwhich can be released by hydraulic pressure applied through theChristmas tree.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tubing hangerwhich is adapted to be locked within or released from a casing headbeneath Water by physical manipulation of the tubing hanger through theuse of a suitable tool releasably attached thereto and which extends tothe water surface.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tubing hangerassembly capable of being installed or removed from a casing headbeneath water without requiring the services of a diver.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following description and the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section of the tubing hanger assembly of thepresent invention taken on a diametric plane.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal section taken on line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a half vertical section similar to FIG. 1 and illustrates thetubing hanger installed within a casing head.

FIG. 5 is a half vertical section similar to FIG. 1 and illustratesanother embodiment of the tubing hanger assembly.

The tubing hanger assembly (FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4) of the inventioncomprises a tubular tubing hanger support member 12 the outer diameterof which is such that it is adapted to be slidably received within thebore 14 of a casing head 16 (FIG. 4). The lower portion 18 of the hangersupport member 12 is formed with a reduced outside diameter (FIGS. 1 and4), and a sleeve 20 is slidably received thereon. The lower portion ofthe sleeve 20 is counterbored to provide an annular space 22 between theouter surface of the lower portion 18 of the hanger support member 12and the inner surface of the sleeve 20.

An annular packing element 24 is interposed between the upper end of thesleeve 20 and the downwardly facing shoulder 26 on the hanger supportmember 12 formed by the reduction in outside diameter of the lowerportion 18 thereof. A plurality of vertical bores 28 (FIGS. 1 and 4) areformed in the upper portion of the hanger support member 12 on equallyangularly spaced radii thereof. The bores 28 are each counterbored asindicated at 30. Cap screws 32 extend through the bores 28 with theirheads received in the counterbores 3d. The cap screws 32 project throughsuitable bores 34 in the packing element 24 and are threaded intosuitably tapped openings 36 in the upper end of the sleeve 20 to retainthe hanger support member 12, the packing element 24 and the sleeve 20in the proper assembled relation with each other.

The sleeve 20 is provided adjacent its upper end with a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced apertures 40 (FIGS. 1 and 2) extending radiallytherethrough. A locking lug 42 is slidably received within each of theapertures 40. Each of the locking lugs 42 is provided at its inner endwith laterally extending flanges 44 (FIG. 2) adapted to abut the innersurface of the sleeve 29 to limit outward radial movement of the lugs.Shear pins 45 normally retain each of the locking lugs in its retractedposition. An annular lug actuating member 46 (FIGS. 1 and 4) is slidablydisposed in the annular space 22 between the sleeve 20 and the lowerportion 18 of the hanger support member 12 beneath the lugs 42. The lugactuator 46 is provided with an upwardly facing, downwardly andoutwardly sloping cam surface 48. A plurality of cylindrical, downwardlyfacing spring guide lugs 50 are formed on the lower end of the lugactuator 46, each of which is received within the upper end of a coilspring 52. The lower ends of the coil springs 52 are received oversimilar, upwardly projecting spring guide lugs 54 formed on the uppersurface of an annular spring compressing member 56 slidably mounted inthe lower portion of the annular space 22 with its lower end projectingbelow the lower ends of the hanger support member 12 and the sleeve 20.Shear pins 58 normally retain the spring compressing member 56 in thisposition. A plurality of tapered recesses 57 are formed in the innersurface of the member 56 and a slip member 59 is mounted in each recess.A spring 61 is mounted beneath each slip 59 and urges the slip upwardlyinto engagement with the outer surface of the lower portion 18 of thebody support member 12 to prevent upward movement thereof relative tothe member 56.

The bore through the hanger support member 12 is broken into severalsections 68, 62, 64, 66 and 63, respectively, of progressively smallerdiameters as it progresses from the top of the member 12 toward thebottom. The upper end 62 of the bore of the support member 12 isupwardly flared and the several bore sections are connected to eachother by upwardly facing, downwardly tapered sections 79, '72, 74 and76, respectively.

A seal carrier 86, having an outer diameter adapted to be slidablyreceived within the bore section 66 of the hanger support member 12, anda downwardly facing, tapered surface 82 adjacent its lower end, ismounted in said bore section 66 with the surface 32 resting on theupwardly facing, downwardly tapered surface 76. A plurality of radiallyprojecting lugs 84 are fixed to the seal carrier and are received withinsuitable ]-slots 86 provided in the wall of the bore section 66 of thehanger support member 12 to lock the seal carrier 8d therein. Aplurality of similar J-slots 88 are formed in the inner wall of the sealcarrier 80 to permit connection therewith of an installing and removingtool (not shown). The upper end of the seal carrier 89 is downwardlytapered as illustrated at 90 to form a continuation of the surface 74 inthe bore of the hanger supportmember 12 when the seal carrier 80 isinstalled therein. A stripper type seal 92 is fixed to the seal carrier30 and is adapted to engage the outer surface of .a tubular memberprojecting therethrough in the manner described hereinbelow. i

A tubular hanger element 1% is adapted to be slidably received withinthe hanger support member 12. The hanger element 106 is provided withthreads 1191 in the wall of its bore at the upper end thereof, and withdownwardly facing beveled surfaces 192 and 1114 on its exterior adaptedto rest on the upwardly facing beveled surfaces It! and 72,respectively, in the hanger support member 12. The lower portion of thehanger element 1% is cut back as indicated at 1136, and an annularpacking element 1% is mounted thereon and retained by a gland nut 110.The

support member 12 by a plurality of radially movable locking lugs 120,120a, 1201) and 1211c, respectively, (FIGS. 1, 3 and 4) adapted toproject outwardly from the hanger element 169 into a suitable annulargroove'122 formed in thewall of the bore section 62 of the supportmember 12. Since all of these lugs are the same, only the'lug'120 andthe cylinder within which it operates need be describe-d herein.

The locking lug 120 is in the form of a piston having an enlarged pistonhead 123 slidably received within a cylinder 124 formed in the hangerelement 101). A cylindrical sleeve 126 surrounds the outer, smallerdiameter portion of the lug 1211 insliding engagement therewith and isthreaded into the outer end of the cylinder 124. Suitable O-ring seals125 and 127 are provided to prevent leakage between the piston head 123and the cylinder 124, and between the lug 120 and the sleeve 126,respectively. A compression spring 128, mounted in a smaller diameterbore 130 at the inner end of and coaxial with the cylinder 124, bearsagainst the inner end of the lug 120 and urges the lug outwardly. A ventpassageway 132 com nects the inner end of the cylinder 124 with thespace above the hanger element 100.

The bore 140 through the tubular hanger element 160 is counterbored atits upper end as indicated at 142. Each of the cylinders 124 isconnected by a passageway 144 with the counterbored portion 142 of thebore 161). A sleeve valve 146 slidably received in the counterbore 142normally seals the inner ends of the passageways 144. The sleeve valve146 is provided with a plurality of suitable O-ring seals 148 which arepositioned at opposite sides of the passageways 144 when the sleevevalve' 146 is at its lowest position within the counterbore 142, asshown in FIG. 1. A shear pin 149 normally retains the sleeve 146 in itslowermost position.

A tubular sub 150 (FIGS. 1 and 4) is threaded into the lower end of thebore 140 of the hanger element 100, and

a is adapted to project downwardly therefrom through the stripper sealelement 92. The lower end of the sub 150 is threadedly connected to theupper end of a tubing string 152. The bore 154 through the sub 150 isprovided with an annular locking groove 156 adapted to receive inlocking engagement a back pressure valve (not shown) which may be of thetype illustrated in US. Patent No. 2,856,003 which issued to J. V. Freddon October 14, 1958, and is entitled Well Tools. A similar lockinggroove 158 is provided in the bore 160 through the sleeve valve 146 toreceive another back pressure valve (not shown) of similar type.

In order to install the hanger assembly 111, the hanger support member12, with its locking mechanism attached thereto, is lowered into thecasing head 16 (FIG. 4) until the lower end of the spring compressingmember 56 con-' tacts the upper end of a previously installed hanger oran upwardly facing abutment surface 170 provided in the casing head 16.Further downward movement of the support member 12 causes the shear pin58 to break, and the continued downward movementof the support member 12relative to the spring compressing member 56 compresses the springs 52.When the locking lugs 42 reach the elevation of an annular lockinggroove 172 provided in the easing head 16 (FIG. 4), the lug actuator 46is moved upwardly by the springs '52 to break the shear pins 45 andforce the lugs 42 outwardly, into the groove 172. The lug actuator 46subsequently moves in back of the lugs 42 to lock the same in theirouter positions. The hanger support member 12 is now firmly locked inplace within the casing head 16. The weight of the hanger support member12, and the elements to be supported thereby, causes the member 12 tomove downwardly within the sleeve 20, thus energizing the packingelement 24 into tight engagement with the inner wall of the casing head167 A suitable installing'tool (not shown) is now engaged in the J-slots88 in the seal carrier and the carrier is lowered until the lugs 84there-0n are received and locked Within the J-slots 86 inthe supportmember 12. The. installing tool is then disengaged from the J-slots 88and the tool removed. V V

The tubing string .152 is then lowered through the stripper seal 92.which maintains wiping engagement with the tubing string to preventfluid from flowing upward along the latter. The sub 1501 is connected tothe upper end of the tubing string 152, the hanger .element ltlti isconnected to the upper end of the sub 150 and a suitable installingmandrel (not shown) is screwed into the threads 101 at the upper end ofthe hanger element 100. The hanger element 101 with the sub 150 and thetubing string 152 suspended therefrom is then lowered by means of theinstalling mandrel until'the downwardly facing support surfaces 102 and194 thereon are resting on the upwardly facing support surfaces 70 and72 in thehanger support member 12. At this elevation of the hangerelement 100,

the locking lugs12 0 will be opposed to the locking groove 122 inthehanger support member 12, and will be forced outwardly into saidgroove by the springs 128. The complete tubing hanger assembly 10 is nowfirmly locked in place within the casing head 16 and the installingmandrel can be unscrewedfrom the thread 101 and removed.

If it is desired for any reason to raise the tubing string 152, atubular mandrel (not shown) is screwed into the thread 101, a backpressure valve (not shown) is lowered therethrough and installed in thelocking groove 156 in the sub 150, and a pump-through type back pressurevalve (not shown) is similarly installed in the locking groove 158 inthe sleeve valve 146. The upper back pressure valve is then picked up ina well known manner to open the sleeve valve 146, and pressure fluid isthen pumped through the mandrel into the space between the valves. Thepressure fluid then flows through the passageways 144 into the cylinders124 between the piston heads 123 on the locking lugs and the sleeves 126thus causing the lugs 120 to be moved inwardly against the action of thesprings 128 and out of locking engagement with the locking groove 122.The hanger element 100, with the sub and tubing string 152 attachedthereto, can now be moved upwardly'away from the remainder of the wellhead assembly. Reinstallation of the tubing string 152, and the hangerelement 100 for support thereof, is effected in the same manner as theoriginal installation described above.

From the foregoing description it may be seen that the structuredescribed provides means whereby a tubing string can be installedthrough, supported from, and removed from a casing head at the desire ofthe well operator without requiring the performance of any operations atthe exterior of the casing head. As set forth above, this type ofmechanism is particularly advantageous in underwater installations,since all of the necessary operations for installation or removal can beperformed above the water surface thus eliminating the need for theservices of a diver.

The embodiment dis-closed in FIG. is essentially the same as thatdisclosed in FIGS. 1 to 4 and the same reference numerals with theletter a appended thereto are used to denote the elements which are thesame. The diiierence in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 is that thefluid actuated locking lugs 12!) have been replaced by a plurality oflocking pins 189 fixed to the hanger element 106a and adapted to bereceived and locked within suitable I-slots 182 formed in the wall ofthe bore section $251 of the support member 12a.

Installation and removal of this modification are the same as describedabove with the exception that a suitable tool (not shown) is engagedwith the upper end of the hanger element 160a, in any manner well knownin the art, and locking engagement or disengagement between the element108a and the support member 12:; is effected through physicalmanipulation of the member 100a.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed herein, it should be noted that various changes may be madetherein, without departing from the spirit of the invention as definedin the appended claims.

The invention having thus been described, what is claimed as new anddesired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

I claim:

1. A tubing hanger assembly comprising a tubular tubing hanger supportmember having an annular groove in the wall of its bore, an upwardlyfacing support surface within said hanger support member, a tubulartubing hanger adapted to fit within the bore of said hanger supportmember, a support surface on said tubing hanger adapted to engage theupwardly facing support surface in said hanger support member, aplurality of cylinders in said tubing hanger with their axes extendingradially there of, a plurality of locking lugs adapted to be projectedoutwardly into said annular groove, each of said lugs having a pistonhead slidable within one of said cylinders, spring means normally urgingsaid lugs outwardly, said tubing hanger having passageways connectingsaid cylinders with the bore through the tubing hanger for conductingfluid under pressure from the bore to the cylinders to retract saidlocking lugs, and a remotely operable valve in the bore of said tubinghanger for normally blocking off said passageways from the pressure offluid in said bore.

2. A tubing hanger assembly comprising a tubular tubing hanger supportmember having an annular groove in the wall of its bore, a tubulartubing hanger adapted to fit within the bore of said hanger supportmember, a plurality of cylinders formed in said tubing hanger with theiraxes radially disposed, a plurality of locking lugs adapted to beprojected outwardly into said annular groove, each of said lugs having apiston head slidably received within one of said cyinders, spring meansfor normally urging said lugs outwardly, said tubing hanger havingpassageways therein connecting said cylinders with the bore of thetubing hanger for introducing pressurized fluid from the bore into thecylinders to retract the locking lugs and a sleeve valve slidablymounted in said bore for movement to and from a position covering theends of said passageways, the internal diameter of said sleeve valvebeing at least as large as the bore in said tubing hanger.

3. The tubing hanger assembly of claim 2, wherein said tubing hanger isformed with an upwardly facing shoulder engaging the lower end of saidsleeve valve.

4. The tubing hanger of claim 3, wherein said sleeve valve is connectedto said tubing hanger with a shear pin.

5. A well head assembly comprising, a casing head having a vertical boretherethrough and an annular lug receiving groove formed in the Wall ofsaid vertical bore, a tubular hanger support member slidably receivedwithin said vertical bore, a plurality of locking lugs associated withsaid hanger support member, wedging means urging said locking lugsoutwardly of said support member whereby when said lugs are inregistration with said groove said lugs move outwardly into said annulargroove in the wall or" said vertical bore, means releasably mounted onsaid support member and engaging said wedging means and being engageablewith said casing head for forcing said wedging means between said lugsand said support member after said lugs move into said groove, saidhanger support member having a vertical bore therethrough, a tubinghanger adapted to be fixed to the upper end of a tubing string, saidtubing hanger being slidably received within the bore through saidhanger support member, and matching support surfaces formed in saidhanger support member and on said tubing hanger for supporting saidtubing hanger Within the bore through said support member.

6. A well head assembly comprising, a casing head having a vertical boretherethrough and an annular groove in the wall of said vertical bore, atubular hanger support member slidably received within said verticalbore, a sleeve slidably mounted on said hanger support member, means forlimiting axial movement of the Sleeve with respect to the supportmember, a plurality of apertures extending radially through said sleeve,locking lugs slidably mounted in said apertures, means for moving saidlocking lugs outwardly into said annular groove in the casing head, saidhanger support member having a vertical bore therethrough, a tubinghanger receivable within the bore of said support member and adapted tobe fixed to the upper end of a tubing string, matching support surfacesformed in said hanger support member and on said tubing hanger forsupporting said tubing hanger within the bore through said supportmember, a plurality of locking lugs mounted on said tubing hanger, andlug receiving means formed in the wall of said bore through said supportmember into which said lugs on the tubing hanger project to eifectlocking engagement between said tubing hanger and said hanger supportmember.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein said lug receiving means is a groovein said support member and wherein said hanger includes cylindersslidably receiving said hanger locking lugs for axial movement thereofin their respective cylinders upon application of fluid pressure in saidcylinders said locking lugs being projectable into said grooves toeffect said locking engagement between the hanger and the supportmember.

8. The assembly of claim 6 wherein said lug receiving means is aplurality of I-slots in said support member, each I-slot including anupper portion extending lengthwise of said support member and a lowerportion extending angularly of its respective upper portion, saidlocking lugs on said tubing hanger being received in said slots so thatwhen said lugs are in the upper portions of the slots, the tubing hangercan be received into or removed from said support member and so thatwhen said lugs are in said lower portions of said slots, said hanger canbe locked in said support member against axial movement relativethereto.

9. A well head assembly comprising, a casing head having a vertical boretherethrough and an annular groove in the wall of said vertical bore, atubular hanger support member slidably received within said verticalbore, the lower portion of said hanger support member having a reducedexternal diameter, a sleeve slidably mounted on the reduced diameterportion of said hanger support member, means for limiting axial movementof the sleeve with respect to the support member, a plurality ofapertures extending radially of said sleeve, locking lugs slidablymounted in said apertures, means for moving said locking lugs outwardlyinto said annular groove to secure the support member to the casinghead, said hanger support member having a vertical bore therethrough, atubing hanger adapted to be fixed to the upper end of a tubing string,said tubing hanger being slidably received within the bore through saidhanger support member, matching support surfaces formed in said hangersupport member and on said tubing hanger for supporting said tubinghanger within the bore through said support member, a plurality oflocking lugs mounted on said tubing hanger, and lug receiving meansformed in the wall of said bore through said support member into whichsaid lugs on the tubing hanger project toeffect locking engagementbetween said tubing hanger and said hanger support member.

10. A well head assembly comprising, a casing head having a verticalbore therethrough and an annular groove formed in the wall of saidvertical bore, a tubular hanger support member slidably received withinsaid vertical bore, the lower portion of said hanger support memberhaving a reduced external diameter, a sleeve slidably mounted on saidlower portion of the hanger support member, means for limiting axialmovement of the sleeve with respect to the support member, a sealingmember interposed between said sleeve and the upper portion of saidhanger support member and adapted to be energized into sealingengagement with the wall of said vertical bore by downward movement ofsaid support member relative to said sleeve, a plurality of aperturesextending radially through said sleeve, a' locking lug slidably mountedin each of said apertures, means for moving said locking lugs outwardlyinto said annular groove to fasten the hanger support member within thecasing head, said hanger support member having a vertical boretherethrough, a tubing hanger adapted to be fixed to the upper end of atubing string, said tubing hanger being receivable within the borethrough said hanger support member, matching support surfaces in saidhanger support member and on said tubing hanger for supporting saidtubing hanger within the bore through said support member, a pluralityof locking lugs mounted on said tubing hanger, and lug receiving meansformed in the wall of said bore through said support member into whichsaid lugs on the tubing hanger project to eifect locking engagementbetween said tubing hanger and said hanger support member.

11. In a tubing hanger assembly, a tubular tubing hanger support memberhaving a lower portion of smaller external diameter than its upperportion, a sleeve slidably mounted on the lower portion ofsaid supportmember, means for limiting axial movement of the sleeve with respect tothe support member, an annular packing element surrounding said lowerportion of said support member between the upper portion thereof andsaid sleeve, said sleeve having a plurality of radially disposedapertures therein, a plurality of lugs mounted one in each of saidapertures for radial movement with respect to said sleeve, and anannular lug actuating cam in engagement with the inner ends of said lugsand slidably mounted on the lower portion of said support member forlongitudinal movement with respect to said support member and saidsleeve and effective when so moved to project said lugs outwardly. 7

12. In 'a tubing hanger assembly, a tubular tubing hanger support memberhaving a lower portion of smaller external diameter than its upperportion, a sleeve slidably mounted on the lower portion of said member,means for limiting axial movement of the sleeve with respect to thesupport member, the lower end of the bore through said sleeve beingcounterbored to provide an annular space between said sleeve and saidsupport member, said sleeve having a plurality of radially disposedapertures therein, a plurality of lugs mounted one in each of saidapertures for radial movement with respect to said sleeve, and anannular lug actuating cam in engagement with the'inner ends of said lugsand mounted in said annular space for longitudinal movement with respectto said hanger support member and said sleeve and efiective when somoved to project'said lugs outwardly.

13. In a tubing hanger assembly, a tubular tubing hanger support memberhaving a lower portion of smaller external diameter than its upperportion, a sleeve slidably mounted on the lower portion of said member,means for limiting axial movement of the sleeve with respect to thesupport member, the lower end of the bore through said sleeve beingcounterbored to provide an annular space between said sleeve and saidsupport member, said sleeve having a plurality'of radially disposedapertures therein, a plurality of lugs mounted one in each of saidapertures for radial movement with respect to said sleeve, an annularlug actuating cam mounted in said annular space for longitudinalmovement with respect to said hanger support member and said sleeve,spring means abutting the lower end of said lug actuating cam, and anannular spring compressing member slidably mounted on the lower portionof said support member and abutting the lower end of said spring means,the lower ends of said spring compressing member projecting downwardlybeneath the lower ends of said hanger support member and said sleeve.

14. In a tubing hanger assembly, a tubular tubing hanger support memberhaving a lower portion of smaller external diameter than its upperportion, a sleeve slidably mounted on the lower portion of said member,means for limiting axial movement of the sleeve with respect to thesupport member, an annular packing element surrounding said lowerportion of said support member between the upper portion thereof andsaid sleeve, the lower end of the bore through said sleeve beingcounterbored to provide an annular space between said sleeve and saidsupport member, said sleeve having a plurality of radially disposedapertures therein, a plurality of lugs mounted one in each of saidapertures for radial movement with respect to said sleeve, an annularlug actuating cam mounted in said annular space for longitudinalmovement with respect to said hanger support member and said sleeve,spring means a butting the lower end of said lug actuating cam, anannular spring compressing member abutting the lower end of said springmeans and projecting downwardly beneath the lower ends of said hangersupport member and said sleeve, and a shear pin for normally retainingsaid spring compressing member in this position.

15. In a tubing hanger assembly, a tubular tubing hangers supportmember, a sleeve slidably mounted on said support member incircumscribing circumferentially spaced relation to said support member,means for limiting axial movement of said sleeve with respect to saidsupport member, said support member and sleeve having opposed annularsurfaces movable toward and away from each other upon sliding movementof said sleeve relative to said support member, an annular packingelement circumscribing said support member and being positioned betweensaid surfaces of said support member and said sleeve, said sleeve havinga plurality of radially disposed apertures therein, a plurality of lugsindividually mounted in said apertures for radial movement withrespecttto said sleeve, and means engageable with said lugs forprojecting said lugs radially outwardly in said apertures.

16. In a tubing hanger assembly, a tubing hanger sup port member, asleeve mounted on said support member in circumscribing spaced relationthereto, said sleeve having a radially disposed aperture therein, a lugmounted in said aperture for radial movement with respect to said sleeveand having an inner end facing said support member, and a lug actuatingcam in engagement with the inner end of said lug and being mounted inthe space between said sleeve and said support member for longitudinalmovement with respect to said support member and said sleeve andefiective when so moved to project said lug outwardly in said aperture.7

17. In a tubing hanger assembly, a tubing hanger sup- 7 port member, asleeve mounted on said member in circumscribing spaced relation to saidmember, said sleeve having a plurality of radially disposed aperturestherein, a plurality of lugs mounted one in each of said apertures forradial movement with respect to said sleeve, an annular lug actuatingcam mounted between said sleeve and said support member and beinglongitudinally movable with respect to said support member and saidsleeve, said cam having an upper end adjacent to said lugs and anopposite lower end, spring means between said support member and saidsleeve and abutting the lower end of said earn, and an annular springcompressing member slidably mounted between said support member and saidsleeve and engaging said spring means, said spring means being heldunder compression between said cam and said compressing member andurging the upper end of said cam against said lugs whereby uponlongitudinal movement of said cam toward said lugs, said cam moves saidlugs outwardly in their respective apertures.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,188,001 6/16May 166--212 Rasmussen 16683 Simmons.

Barker 285141 Neuhaus 285-142 Block 285-141 Otis 166-86 OLeary 166-212 XPenick 285146 Meddiek 166-433 Sorensen 166-428 Jones et a1. 16675 Jones16682 Johnson 16688 Burns et a1. Reed.

Canner 28518 CARL W. TOMLIN, Primary Examiner.

BENJAMIN BENDETT, Examiner.

1. A TUBING HANGER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A TUBULAR TUBING HANGER SUPPORTMEMBER HAVING AN ANNULAR GROOVE IN THE WALL OF ITS BORE, AN UPWARDLYFACING SUPPORT SURFACE WITHIN SAID HANGER SUPPORT MEMBER, A TUBULARTUBING HANGER ADAPTED TO FIT WITHIN THE BORE OF SAID HANGER SUPPORTMEMBER, A SUPPORT SURFACE ON SAID TUBING HANGER ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THEUPWARDLY FACING SUPPORT SURFACE IN SAID HANGER SUPPORT MEMBER, APLURALITY OF CYLINDERS IN SAID TUBING HANGER WITH THEIR AXES EXTENDINGRADIALLY THEREOF, A PLURALITY OF LOCKING LUGS ADAPTED TO BE PROJECTEDOUTWARDLY INTO SAID ANNULAR GROOVE, EACH OF SAID LUGS HAVING A PISTONHEAD SLIDABLE WITHIN ONE OF SAID CYLINDERS, SPRING MEANS NORMALLY URGINGSAID LUGS OUTWARDLY, SAID TUBING HANGER HAVING PASSAGEWAYS CONNECTINGSAID CYLINDERS WITH THE BORE THROUGH THE TUBING HANGER FOR CONDUCTINGFLUID UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE BORE TO THE CYLINDERS TO RETRACT SAIDLOCKING LUGS, AND A REMOTELY OPERABLE VALVE IN THE BORE OF SAID TUBINGHANGER FOR NORMALLY BLOCKING OFF SAID PASSAGEWAYS FROM THE PRESSURE OFFLUID IN SAID BORE.